Faith groups, CSOs show force for Climate Justice

Members of PMPI Sites of Struggles from different mining affected communities across the country pose by the Calancan Bay, Marinduque’s coastal community to be the first casualty of mine waste spillage, in support for the Global Climate March

The largest mobilisations for Climate Justice around the world has started.

The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), its partners in NCR, thousands of faith-based institutions, and environmentalists showed great force of unity amid Global Climate March ban in Paris due to security issues.

Series of activities
Groups in the Philippines have organised activities across the country. Below are the schedule from the Ecological Justice Interfaith Movement, which is composed of various religious groups from different creeds and civil society organisations (CSOs).

• November24-28, Southern Luzon to Manila: The People and Environment Against Coal-based Energy (PEACE) Caravan, led by coal-affected communities, to stop the proliferation of coal and transform the energy system in the country. It will start from Semirara and Caluya Islands, Antique; going to San Jose, Mindoro; Quezon; Batangas; Laguna; and finally in Malacañang.
• November 28, Eastern Visayas: Mobilizations in the Leyte cities of Tacloban and Ormoc will be held to remember those who lost their lives during super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
• November 28, Cebu: The People’s Climate March Sugbu/Cebu will start at mid-afternoon at the Fuente Osmeña Circle to Basilica del Santo Niño, where a mass for the environment will be held and a unity statement will be read.
• November28, Mindanao: Simultaneous mobilizations will be held in the Mindanao cities of Davao City, Davao del Sur; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; General Santos, South Cotabato; Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Ozamis, Misamis Occidental; Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur; and Tangub, Misamis Occidental.
• November 28, Quezon City: The March for Climate Justice Pilipinas to Quezon Memorial Circle.
• November 29, Manila: A march and mass will be held at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, led by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and the Global Catholic Climate Movement.
• November 30, Manila: Labor unions will hold their annual Bonifacio Day mobilization, also bringing the theme of climate justice.

Courtesy: PMPI, a network of 300 civil society and faith-based organizations engaging in development work across the country, is a convenor of EcoJIM.